Flamini joined Arsenal on their pre-season tour of Asia but the Londoners have been negotiating a severance package with the midfielder to enable him to find another club.

The Frenchman, who turned 31 in March, is regarded by Arsene Wenger as surplus to requirements at Emirates Stadium.

His current deal, which began in 2013, is a ‘two years plus one’ deal, which allows him to be granted a further 12 months beyond this summer if he played in a stipulated number of matches last season.

Flamini made 33 appearances for the Gunners in 2014-15, including 15 Premier League starts, but he has been a fringe player since Francis Coquelin returned from a loan spell at Charlton Athletic in December to cement his place in Wenger’s team.

At that point, Arsenal were willing to open negotiations with Flamini on an extension but Wenger handed Coquelin a new contract and is in the market for a proven midfield anchorman this summer to compete with the 24-year-old Frenchman.

The latest player to come on to Wenger’s radar is Illarramendi, who has struggled for game time since joining Real two years ago.

Despite his recent injury problem, Mikel Arteta has signed a one-year contract extension and Wenger also added teenager Krystian Bielik in January.

Flamini spent four years with the Gunners from 2004-2008 before re-joining in 2013 after five years at AC Milan.